The Pilgrim’s Progress

The Pilgrim’s Progress

By John Bunyan.

Table of Contents

1. Titlepage
2. Imprint
3. Works from Which Notes to This Edition Have Been Selected
4. The Pilgrim’s Progress
   1. The Author’s Apology for His Book
   2. The First Part
   3. The Author’s Way of Sending Forth His Second Part of the Pilgrim
   4. The Second Part
5. Endnotes
6. Colophon
7. Uncopyright

Imprint

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Works from Which Notes to This Edition Have Been Selected

The following are the principal works from which the Notes to this edition of The Pilgrim’s Progress have been selected:⁠—

1. The Pilgrim’s Progress, Part the First. 12mo, 1776. The preface states, that “an edition, containing some brief notes to illustrate the more difficult passages, has been long desired. An attempt of this kind is now submitted to the public.” This appears to be the first edition with notes. There is no indication of who the notes are by; but there can be little doubt but that they are from the pen of the Rev. J. Newton, the friend of Cowper. The Editor has four editions of this interesting volume⁠—1776, 1782, 1789, and 1797.

2. The Pilgrim’s Progress; both Parts, with Notes. By W. Mason. 8vo, 1778. In the preface, Mr. Mason says, “I have often wished to see some explanatory notes upon certain passages in it. Having been solicited to undertake this, at a time when no one had attempted it, I have endeavoured, according to the ability which God has given me, to execute it.” This book was published in numbers, and the notes proved very acceptable. The subscribers requested that more frequent and longer notes should be given. Mr. Mason promises to comply with this request. The advertisement is dated “Rotherhithe, March 8, 1776.”

3. The Pilgrim’s Progress, with Notes. By A Bachelor of Arts of Oxford⁠—J. B. 8vo. 1792.

4. The Pilgrim’s Progress in blank verse. By J. S. Dodd, M.D. Dublin, 1793.

5. The Pilgrim’s Progress, with a Key to the Allegory. Published by Heptinstall, 1796.

6. The Pilgrim’s Progress, divided into Chapters. By the Rev. G. Burder, of Coventry. 12mo, 1797.

7. A Key to the Pilgrim’s Progress. By Andronicus. 12mo, second edition, 1797.

8. The Pilgrim’s Progress, with Notes. By the Rev. T. Scott. 8vo.

9. The Pilgrim’s Progress Versified, with short Notes. By G. Burder, 1804.

10. The Pilgrim’s Progress, with Life. By M’Nicoll and Dr. A. Clarke. 8vo, 1809.

11. Warr’s Course of Lectures, Illustrative of the Pilgrim’s Progress. 8vo, 1825.

12. The Pilgrim’s Progress, with Historical and Practical Notes. By the Rev. T. Ivimey. 8vo. Oxford, 1824; London, 1829.

13. The Pilgrim’s Progress, an Epic Poem. By C. C. V. G. 8vo. Parsonstown, 1844.

14. The Pilgrim’s Progress, an Epic Poem, Two Parts. Published by Bagster, 1845.

15. Dr. Cheever’s [exceedingly interesting] Lectures. 1846.

16. The extracts from Bunyan’s other works, which so admirably illustrate his Pilgrim’s Progress, have a reference to this new edition.

The Pilgrim’s Progress

The Author’s Apology for His Book

When at the first I took my pen in hand
Thus for to write, I did not understand
That I at all should make a little book
In such a mode; nay, I had undertook
To make another; which, when almost done,
Before I was aware, I this begun.

And thus it was: I, writing of the way
And race of saints, in this our gospel day,
Fell suddenly into an allegory
About their journey, and the way to glory,
In more than twenty things which I set down.
This done, I twenty more had in my crown;
And they again began to multiply,
Like sparks that from the coals of fire do fly.

Nay, then, thought I, if that you breed so fast,
I’ll put you by yourselves, lest you at last
Should prove ad infinitum, and eat out
The book that I already am about.

Well, so I did; but yet I did not think
To show to all the world my pen and ink
In such a mode; I only thought to make
I knew not what; nor did I undertake
Thereby to please my neighbour: no, not I;
I did it my own self to gratify.

Neither did I but vacant seasons spend
In this my scribble; nor did I intend
But to divert myself in doing this
From worser thoughts which make me do amiss.

Thus, I set pen to paper with delight,
And quickly had my thoughts in black and white.
For, having now my method by the end,
Still as I pulled, it came; and so I penned
It down: until it came at last to be,
For length and breadth, the bigness which you see.

Well, when I had thus put mine ends together,
I showed them others, that I might see whether
They would condemn them, or them justify:
And some said, Let them live; some, Let them die;
Some said, John, print it; others said, Not so;
Some said, It might do good; others said, No.

Now was I in a strait, and did not see
Which was the best thing to be done by me:
At last I thought, Since you are thus divided,
I print it will, and so the